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Scott

Why wait for the future of productivity and leisure to crash-land in your office or living room sometime circa 2027 when you can experience it today? Take a second glance at what’s going on in the world of high-tech and consumer electronics, and you may be surprised at just how rapidly several of today’s most cutting-edge new advancements are filtering down into everyday household gadgets and gizmos. From forward-thinking technology toys (look, kids, augmented reality!) to laptops equipped with 3D motion-sensing cameras (hmm, let’s put that spreadsheet here, and that PowerPoint there, and drop that video over here…), it’s amazing just how fast and furious new advancements are coming. Following, you’ll five find simple examples of new inventions and clever/original updates on familiar old standbys that are already transforming the world around us. And, of course, hinting at the soon-to-be-endless range of new innovative and high-tech applications that are yet to come from an ever-growing range of futuristic leisure and productivity devices…

Disney and Hasbro’s latest high-tech innovation – a range of augmented reality toys combining wearable gear and motion-sensing technology with interactive action figures – may make you wish you were a kid all over again. Designed to get children up and physically moving, this self-described “new way to play” essentially uses high-tech devices to tell stories in new and novel ways – and make sprouts the star of a real-life adventure in which they can battle nefarious evildoers. Initial starter packs (based on Marvel’s popular Avengers line of superhero comics and films) include a talking glove, two motion-sensing targets, and a pair of high-tech superhero/villain figurines. Picture a futuristic gauntlet with a high-tech laser sight attached that tracks kids’ movements and aim as they jump, run and roll around, trying to blast away at dock-mounted action figures, each of which has its own associated stories and missions – sounds fun, right? Amusingly, all of these adventures are articulated in the form of spoken-word, narrated storylines, inviting kids to dodge incoming missiles, blast nearby targets with freeze rays, or stop rampaging robots – each pictured chiefly in the mind’s eye. For such a surprisingly sophisticated concept, it’s all actually quite simple and entertaining… Just strap on the armband, mount an action figure on a base target station, get your mission briefing (or, optionally, download a mobile app on your smartphone or tablet to track progress and access new missions or locations), and voila. You’ll be surprised at just how quickly your living room can become a battleground the likes of which earth has never seen before.

What’s Bob Marley’s family been up to these days, besides celebrating a legacy of timeless reggae music? Cranking out water-resistant Bluetooth speakers so you can also kick back and enjoy some sweet tunes while lounging by the pool come spring. Built to be used in outdoor environments, the Chant Sport (made from eco-friendly components, naturally) is, in a novel twist, designed to float in case it takes an accidental dive, and capable of bringing the noise for up to 8 hours. One of the more forward-thinking designs on the market, the wireless unit is basically built to withstand even the most concerted partygoer’s efforts, making it an especially useful tagalong if you’re planning on rocking out or taking calls by the Jacuzzi anytime while enjoying a much-needed fall or winter vacation.

Like many laptops in a similar price range, you can expect significant horsepower, high-quality graphics playback, and the ability to run a massive range of games and software applications from Lenovo’s Z51. But unlike many other similar notebook PCs, it also piles on a 3D camera that takes advantage of Intel’s so-called “RealSense 3D” technology, which lets you manipulate on-screen objects with the wave of a hand, or raise of an eyebrow. As an added bonus, if you happen to be a fan of 3D printing, you can also use the gizmo to scan objects in three dimensions – then use the digital blueprints you create to reproduce them later using a 3D printer. Interestingly for aspiring musicians too, the systems even come with audio production software preinstalled – theoretically you could use them to produce songs, then even design and manufacture an entire album on which they’re stored. Assuming, that is, anyone still remembers what CDs and albums look like anymore…

Ever feel like somebody’s watching you? Maybe it’s the paranoia talking, or maybe it’s the drones – remote-controlled flying robots, now available en masse for home consumption – of which as many as one million are predicted by the FAA to be sold this season alone. Even better news for conspiracy theorists: As seen here in the Chroma – which is relatively simple to pilot using an Android touch-screen controller and comes equipped with a 4K (read: super high-resolution) camera – these devices have gotten a better view of us than ever. The equivalent of a radio-controlled helicopter for the digital age, this high flier runs for just about 30 minutes at a time. But if you’re a videographer or gadget lover, it’s enough time to get your kick: You can set the Chroma to follow you at a set distance as it soars, track your movements remotely, or simply hover around a predefined zone, filming as it goes. Grab one, and you’ll never wonder what the view “from up there” is like ever again – stunning aerial shots should be yours to capture on-command.

Tired of having to lug around a heavy notebook computer and unpack your carry-on every time you have to take a waltz through airport security, but hate the idea of giving up its signature benefits – e.g. a physical keyboard, superior computing/visual horsepower, etc. – and switching over to an iPad? Consider splitting the difference and upgrading to this spunky laptop hybrid that’s been disguised as a tablet PC, which offers enough technical brawn to run most desktop-grade apps and utilities, but also all the portability and convenience you’re craving. While pricier than contemporaries, the Surface Pro 4 still earns high marks, offering the kind of muscle you’d typically expect to see in burlier units in a sleek, slim and travel-friendly form. Grab one, and you’re effectively getting a full-fledged notebook computer, only minus all the chunkiness, clunkiness, and weight that makes lugging your average 8-pound model halfway around the world by hand a kick in the microchips.